Strauss cleared after scans

Andrew Strauss has been cleared of injury after being struck flush on the helmet by a bouncer from Brett Lee during England's second innings in the fifth Test at Sydney.

Strauss was taken to a hospital nearby soon after for precautionary scans but team officials released a brief statement saying there was no serious damage. James Anderson later told reporters that Strauss was fine. "He's all right. He's wandering around the dressing room with a bit of a lump on his head but apart from that he's ok," Anderson said.

Strauss was struck in the third over of England's innings and as the ball crashed into the protective plastic covering covering his temple, he immediately fell to the ground. The blow prompted initial concern among Australian players, several of whom rushed to his aid while medical help was called. Strauss hadn't opened his account at the time, though he recovered sufficiently to make 29 before being dismissed by Stuart Clark.

Shane Warne, at first slip when Strauss was hit, admitted the players had been worried as he was struck. "He got hit really hard so we all went up and made sure he was OK. There was some concern and once we knew he was OK we went back and he played pretty well after that."